Honda Electrified! Clarity Plug-In Hybrid and Clarity Electric Unveiled at 2017 New York International Auto Show

NEW YORK CITY, April 12, 2017 – Honda today revealed its all-new Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Electric alongside the U.S. only Clarity Fuel Cell. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid will be launching in Canada later this year, a first step towards electrifying two-thirds of its global fleet by 2030.

The two all-new electrified Honda vehicles will join the Clarity Fuel Cell to make Clarity the first ever vehicle series showcasing the expanded array of electrified vehicle technologies with fuel cell, battery electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains wrapped in a sophisticated, spacious and comprehensively equipped five-passenger sedan.

“The Honda Clarity is aimed at accelerating the deployment of advanced electrified powertrain technology and bringing electrified vehicles further into the mainstream,” said Jean Marc Leclerc, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Honda Canada. “The Plug-In Hybrid coming to Canada later this year represents a no compromise alternative fuel vehicle that meet the needs our Canadian customers today while building the foundation of an electrified future.”

Honda Clarity Series
As the next progression of Honda’s dynamic styling for electrified products, each Clarity variant has a low, wide aerodynamic body with unique design elements, including its own special hero color, and differentiated front styling, headlights, tail lamps and 18-inch alloy wheel designs. Combined with elegant and advanced exterior styling, each Clarity series vehicle has a spacious interior with comfortable seating for five adults, outfitted with premium, environmentally-responsible materials.

Offering Honda’s “fun-to-drive” DNA, each Clarity variant provides a smooth, quiet and highly refined driving experience, aided by the smooth and seamless character of electric drive torque and acceleration. The Clarity series also features advanced technologies, including Display Audio with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™, and the full suite of Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies.

Clarity plug in hybrid will provide customers nationwide with an ultra-low carbon vehicle that meets their lifestyle needs, and takes Honda toward higher volume sales of advanced powertrain products that will help reduce CO2 emissions.

The Clarity series is at the vanguard of Honda’s commitment to address society’s energy and environmental concerns. Honda is targeting two-thirds of its global automobile sales to come from electrified vehicles by 2030.

Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, launching later this winter, is anticipated to earn an all-electric driving range rating of 68km, the longest of any plug-in hybrid in intermediate segment. For longer trips, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid can utilize its hyper-efficient 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine to generate electricity and, under certain conditions, to act as a direct power source, resulting in an anticipated overall driving range rating in excess of 530km.

The vehicle’s electromotive power comes from a 181-horsepower electric motor producing 232 lb.-ft. of torque and drawing power from both the gasoline engine and a 17-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery pack with a recharge time of 2.5 hours at 240 volts. The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is anticipated to earn an NRCan fuel economy rating of 2.24L equivalent/100km combined, at the top of its class. The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid features three selectable modes – Normal, Econ and Sport – allowing drivers to customize their experience, maximizing efficiency or driving performance. A fourth mode – HV mode – is provided to maintain the battery’s state of charge and can be selected in conjunction with Normal, Econ and Sport driving modes.

The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid will be offered in two premium-contented trims, standard and Touring.

Honda Clarity Electric (US Market only)
The 2017 Honda Clarity Electric is powered by a 161-horsepower (120-kilowatt) electric motor producing 221 lb.-ft. of torque and drawing power from a 25.5-kWh battery pack. The vehicle can by fully charged in just over three hours at 240 volts, and when using DC fast charging with the SAE Combined Charging System can achieve an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes.
The model is anticipated to have a driving range rating of 129km and an anticipated NRCan fuel economy rating of 1.96/2.31/2.12L/100KMe (city/highway/combined). Like the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, the Clarity Electric features three selectable driving modes – Normal, Econ and Sport.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell (US Market only)
Honda views fuel cells as the ultimate zero-emissions vehicle technology and the Clarity Fuel Cell will offer green early adopters the latest technology to be on the forefront of “what’s next.” Honda began deliveries of the 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell in December 2016 in select California markets, where a consumer friendly network of hydrogen stations continues to grow, and has already delivered more than 100 vehicles. The Clarity Fuel Cell is currently being tested for viability in the Canadian market.

Technological innovations to the Clarity Fuel Cell have created a fuel cell stack that is 33 percent more compact with a 60 percent increase in power density compared to its predecessor, the Honda FCX Clarity. The more compact fuel cell and integrated powertrain, now comparable in size to a V-6 engine, fits entirely under the hood of the car, allowing for a more spacious cabin with seating for five passengers.

At 366 miles, the Clarity Fuel Cell has the highest EPA driving range rating of any zero-emission vehicle in America, including fuel cell and battery electric vehicles, and an EPA fuel economy rating of 68 MPGe combined.

About Honda
Honda Canada Inc. (HCI) was founded in 1969 and is the parent company for both Honda and Acura vehicle brands in Canada. The company has produced more than 7.7 million cars and light trucks since 1986 at its two manufacturing facilities and builds engines at a third manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario. Both manufacturing facilities are extremely flexible and currently build Honda Civic and CR-V models. Honda Canada has invested more than $4.7 billion in Canada and each year it sources nearly $2.1 billion in goods and services from Canadian suppliers. Honda Canada has sold more than four million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light trucks in Canada.